Our nation is in a time of great divisiveness. There have always been disagreements, but today seems somewhat unparalleled in people being so divided over so much. Some things worth fighting over, many, however, are not all that important in the scheme of things and with a Kingdom paradigm.
I won’t go into great defense of one thing or another here. But I will share an admonition to be aware of compromise in the name of things that seem good, or may be presented as Christlike.
I am amazed these days when I peruse social media at the number of things I see touting the so-called or supposed conduct and attitudes of Jesus. Generally, posted by those who have no relationship with Him, and have no interest in having one, but are put forth in judgement of Christians in an effort to condemn believers of being the ones that are judgmental or are not inclusive.
Let us be clear that Jesus did pursue sinners, and the lowly and outcast. He met with prostitutes and tax gatherers, people caught in adultery and thieves, those that would deny and betray Him, and more. However, we cannot infer by His outreach to them, and His love expressed toward them and shared with them, that He winked at sin, and tolerated or endorsed their ongoing behaviors and choices.
In John 8 the religious leaders brought a woman caught in adultery Jesus. He showed her mercy but He also, most likely pointed out the sins of her accusers, and told her to Go and Sin No More.
[John 8:3-11 NASB95] 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center [of the court,] 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6 They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him [be the] first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they [began] to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center [of the court.] 10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]
We don’t know what Jesus wrote in the dust the two times He did so here. We know that after the first writing He said “He who is without sin among you, let him [be the] first to throw a stone at her.” Could it be that He wrote of mercy in the dust? And, perhaps, when they pressed more, He wrote a few of the laws and started listing sins and names in the dirt next to them until they walked away. All convicted of sin themselves and unworthy to judge her because their own sin was worthy of condemnation.. We don’t know. But somewhere between the first writing, His word, and the second writing, their zeal to condemn and stone her faded.
The important part here is that her accusers were absolutely right in saying the law required that she be stoned. So what they were saying seemed godly and good according to their understanding of the law, God, and perhaps what they knew of Jesus at the time But, according to Jesus’ word ‘He who is without sin… that one can be the one to throw the first stone’ AND by the law, He, Jesus, was the only one qualified to stone her. AND by the law He could have justly, and should have stoned her. But, He did not. He showed mercy! But, let us note that His mercy came with an instruction to come under His Lordship. Neither do I condemn you. …. and to repent and change… Go. And Sin No More. He did not wink at, condone, or tolerate her sin.
So, while it is true that Jesus is loving and merciful and that He did not come to condemn the world in judgement. It is, and was, not because He, nor God the Father, are tolerant of sin and darkness. We must understand the world is judged and under bondage to sin already. Jesus came to lift men out of judgement and being in bondage to sin and its penalty, death. And, to bring evil to light and turn men to living in the light.
[John 3:17-21 NASB95] 17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
Again, let us understand that judgment is a current reality for those who will not believe in Jesus, and those who reject the The Light and go on loving darkness and their evil deeds.
The clear truth is that the gospel of the Kingdom, and its Christ, who is King, is reasonably intolerant. I say reasonably, because He has made a way out of sin and death in Him. Believing in HIm, coming to the Light and living under His Lordship brings us eternal life and peace in Him. It is reasonable to do so. Remaining in darkness and choosing death is unreasonable.
Charles Spurgeon said: “the religion of Christ is intolerant; it does not allow a second method of salvation.”
[John 14:6 NASB95] 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
[1Timothy 2:3-6 NASB95] 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, [and] one mediator also between God and men, [the] man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony [given] at the proper time.
So, let us not be fooled, or condemned, into accepting tolerance and inclusion, and yes, even love, as the only attributes of God and Christlikeness. Particularly by those that may not know HIm. Or, by those who may know Him but have come to believe that His nature is only love. Yes, He is loving, merciful, and gracious. However His/God’s attributes are not complete without coming to know His just judgement, holiness and purity as well. And, although salvation is not by works, I doubt you can hear His heart and words of mercy and forgiveness without hearing His call to live in the Spirit and under His Lordship as well.
In this time of divisiveness in our nation over so many issues. Let us hold up a Kingdom standard and paradigm that exhibits both the fullness of HIs love in Christ (writing in the dust regarding mercy), and the fullness of His Lordship (scratching in the dust regarding His just judgement) conquering sin and death in us.